Webster City

Town and administrative headquarters of Hamilton County, north-central Iowa; population (1996 est) 7,900. It is situated on the Boone River, 29 km/18 mi east of Fort Dodge. The industrial and commercial centre of an agricultural area, it produces boats and appliances.

Webster City was originally called Newcastle when it was settled in 1854 by Wilson Brewer and family. The town was bought in 1855 by Walter C Willson who established saw and flour mills, put up 133 buildings, four hotels, and a tile factory, and was responsible for three railways coming through the town. Newcastle changed its name to Webster City in 1857, probably after US politician and orator, Daniel Webster. The seat for Hamilton County was disputed with Homer and although what became Webster City was awarded the seat in 1856, a courthouse started in 1858 was never completed. The first completed courthouse was only built in 1866. It was replaced in 1877. That building was condemned in 1974 and the present courthouse opened in 1976.

Webster City was the birthplace of author MacKinlay Kantor in 1904. Kantor won the Pulitzer Prize in 1957 with the novel Andersonville.